House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has championed efforts to ban TikTok from federal employees’ phones by including the provision in an omnibus spending bill she hopes to pass by the end of next week.
It’s the latest in a growing move to limit the reach of the Chinese-owned video-sharing app amid fears the country’s communist rulers could access data.
Pelosis spokeswoman told Portal that she supports the inclusion of the TikTok provision in government funding legislation that the House of Representatives is due to introduce next week.
If passed, the $1.7 trillion spending bill will fund the government through September 30, 2023.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has championed efforts to ban TikTok from federal employees’ phones by including the provision in an omnibus spending bill
Popular video-sharing app TikTok has sparked warnings that its Chinese owners could leak data to the Beijing government or even take control of phones
FBI Director Christopher Wray recently told lawmakers the app could be used to take control of phones.
But the app’s owners, ByteDance, say the fears are unfounded.
Despite this, the Senate on Wednesday voted to ban the video app from state-owned devices, supporting a bill sponsored by Republican Senator Josh Hawley to protect federal employees.
Seven states have banned the app from employees’ phones — or are in the process of banning the app.
And several federal agencies, including the White House and the Pentagon, have banned it from government devices.
Some lawmakers want to go even further. This week, members of Congress introduced legislation that would ban TikTok entirely from the US.
Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Repressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act (ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act) would ban all activities by social media companies in or under the influence of China and Russia.
“The federal government has yet to take one meaningful action to protect American users from the threat posed by TikTok,” Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio said while introducing the law
It has the backing of both Republicans and Democrats, a sign that the app has raised alarms across party lines that Chinese spies are gaining access to American smartphones.
Senator Marco Rubi (R-Florida), who introduced the bill in the Senate, said Chinese law means the app’s owner, ByteDance, is required to hand over data to the Chinese Communist Party.
“The federal government has yet to take one meaningful action to protect American users from the threat posed by TikTok,” he said.
“This isn’t about creative videos – this is an app that collects data on tens of millions of American children and adults every day. We know it’s being used to manipulate feeds and influence elections. We know that it is under the People’s Republic of China.’
The app’s Beijing-based owners are already embroiled in a dispute with the federal government over how it uses and stores user data, amid fears it could be used in influence operations.
Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher, who co-sponsored the House bill, said, “TikTok is digital fentanyl that’s got Americans hooked, harvesting tons of their data and censoring their messages.”
The accompanying legislation was introduced in the House by Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi (left) and Wisconsin Republican Mike Gallagher, both on the House Intelligence Committee
Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Repressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act (ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act) would ban all activities by social media companies in or under the influence of China and Russia.
While Republicans have often been the loudest in warning of the digital threat emanating from China, the bill has the backing of Illinois Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.
“At a time when the Chinese Communist Party and our other adversaries abroad are seeking every advantage they can find against the United States through espionage and mass surveillance, it is imperative that we do not allow hostile powers to potentially control social networks can easily be armed against us,’ he said.
“The bipartisan ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act is a powerful step in protecting our nation from the nefarious digital surveillance and interference of totalitarian regimes.”
Their move follows months of intensive testing of the app.
FBI Director Wray told Congress last month that it would allow the Chinese government to “control data collection from millions of users or the recommendation algorithm that can be used to influence operations.”
He has also warned that it could be used to hijack other software on the phone, which could potentially collect and send more data.
The concern is so great that six states have banned employees from downloading the app.
On Friday, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said the state is joining New Hampshire, Wyoming, Georgia, North Dakota, Idaho and Iowa in taking action.
“The use of TikTok poses a significant risk to the security of our state and Montaner’s sensitive data,” he tweeted.
“Effective immediately, I have banned the use of TikTok on government devices while connected to the government network and to conduct government business.”